Why can't we do nationalism?

Why is it that the Scots and the Welsh have strong national identities, with the emphasis on music, dance and literature etc. and this is widely well-regarded and respected by other people? Whereas if we, ie the English try to do this, everything seems to come down to football. We have a rich heritage of literature, traditional music and folk dance – yes, the Morris – but you see an English flag and it seems to symbolise something chavvy and distasteful.

And if you expand this to British Nationalism, there's Nick Griffin and co. It seems we go from zero to Fascism, with nothing in between.

Something in the national psyche? Something to do with our colonial past?

I don't know the reasons for this Scroat, but in Scotland, we are taught our national history in a way that instills a pride. How a small, but determined nation has made such a huge impact in so many areas, including inventiveness, exploration and culture.
All things that England has in abundance too, but I think that as the Empire died, people became slightly ashamed of how the country had squished so many indigenous people in the quest for broadening the reach of empire, and a sense of embarrassment crept in.

Unfortunately most of our national identity was forged beating up Johnny foreigner (which we used to lead the world at). The Nick Griffins of this world seem to forget that particularly during the Victorian period we were absorbing the culture from around the empire (and it's people) to make us what we are today. So multi-culturalism isn't new.

Having said that the ultimate irony is the 'average Brit' who we are told is a football obsessed xenophobe who drinks German beer followed by a curry, a pizza or a kebab. And wouldn’t think of holidaying in their own country.